There’s lots for kids as well and grown-ups can have fun in the evening by checking out the local music scene, going to the theatre, taking in a Symphony Nova Scotia performance or visiting the casino.

Most things are in the downtown core so getting around between the main sights is fairly easy, even on foot, but there are buses and ferries to help you out. A car is useful for getting to destinations just outside Halifax like Peggy’s Cove.

You can cover a lot in 1-2 days but more time will let you get a real feel for the city, including less touristy but nonetheless lovely places like Point Pleasant Park.

Plenty of universities help give Halifax a youthful vibe. The city used to be considered a separate entity from the neighbouring communities of Dartmouth, Bedford and Sackville but is now included in the Halifax Regional Municipality, with a population around 372,000 people.